Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'atrabilious'

English Word: atrabilious

Key Russian Translations:

• раздражительный /rəzˈdraʒɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/ - [Formal, Adjective, Used to describe a person's temperament in everyday or psychological contexts]
• желчный /ˈʒɛlʲnɨj/ - [Formal, Literary, Often used in a figurative sense to imply bitterness or ill-temper, as in historical or medical discussions]

Frequency: Low (This word and its translations are not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation; they appear more in literature, psychology, or formal writing.)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding nuanced emotional states and requires familiarity with Russian adjective forms; for 'желчный', it may lean towards C1 due to its literary connotations.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

раздражительный: /rəzˈdraʒɪtʲɪlʲnɨj/

Note on раздражительный: The stress falls on the third syllable ('dra'), which is a common challenge for English speakers. Pronounce the 'ж' as a soft 'zh' sound, similar to 'measure' in English.

желчный: /ˈʒɛlʲnɨj/

Note on желчный: The initial 'ж' is pronounced as a voiced fricative, like 's' in 'measure', and the word has a soft ending due to the palatalized 'н'. Variations may occur in regional dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Easily irritated, bad-tempered, or melancholic (Referring to a person's disposition, often with a hint of historical humor from the humoral theory)

Translation(s) & Context:

• раздражительный - Used in formal or everyday contexts to describe someone who is quick to anger, such as in psychological discussions or literature.
• желчный - Applied in more literary or archaic contexts, evoking the idea of 'bile' from ancient medicine, to describe deep-seated irritability.

Usage Examples:

• Его раздражительный характер часто отпугивал друзей.

  His atrabilious nature often scared off friends.

• После неудачного дня она стала желчной и молчаливой.

  After an unsuccessful day, she became atrabilious and silent.

• В старых текстах описывается, как раздражительный герой борется с внутренними демонами.

  In old texts, the atrabilious hero is described as struggling with inner demons.

• Он был раздражительным из-за хронической усталости, что сказывалось на работе.

  He was atrabilious due to chronic fatigue, which affected his work.

• Желчный юмор писателя отражал его atrabilious взгляд на мир.

  The writer's atrabilious humor reflected his bitter view of the world.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are adjectives in Russian, which means they inflect based on gender, number, and case. Russian adjectives follow regular patterns but can have irregularities in spelling or stress.

For 'раздражительный' (regular adjective):

For 'желчный' (also regular but with a more archaic feel):

Note: These adjectives do not change in an irregular way, but always agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • вспыльчивый (more impulsive, often used for sudden anger)
  • нервный (nervous, with a connotation of anxiety)
  • раздражительный (as above, but can be interchangeable in some contexts)
• Antonyms:
  • спокойный (calm, the opposite of irritability)
  • уравновешенный (balanced, implying emotional stability)

Related Phrases:

• Быть в раздражительном настроении - To be in an atrabilious mood (Used to describe temporary irritability, often in daily life contexts).
• Желчный характер - An atrabilious disposition (A literary phrase referring to a deeply ingrained bitter temperament).
• Раздражительный от усталости - Atrabilious from fatigue (Common in health-related discussions).

Usage Notes:

'Atrabilious' directly corresponds to 'раздражительный' in modern Russian for everyday use, but 'желчный' is better for literary or historical contexts, as it draws from the ancient theory of humors. English speakers should note that Russian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe, which can be tricky. For example, choose 'раздражительный' for informal settings and 'желчный' for formal writing. Avoid overusing these in casual speech, as they sound somewhat elevated.

• In sentences, pair with verbs like 'стать' (to become) to show change in mood.
• When selecting between translations, use 'раздражительный' if the focus is psychological, and 'желчный' if emphasizing bitterness.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the adjective forms by not changing them to match the noun's case, e.g., saying 'Он имеет раздражительный' instead of 'Он имеет раздражительный характер' (correct). Error: 'Она была раздражительный' (wrong form). Correct: 'Она была раздражительная'. This stems from not applying Russian agreement rules, leading to grammatical errors. Always check the noun's attributes before inflecting the adjective.

Cultural Notes:

The concept of 'atrabilious' ties into Russian literature and philosophy, echoing the humoral theory from ancient Greece (via figures like Hippocrates), where an excess of black bile was believed to cause melancholy. In Russian culture, this is reflected in works by authors like Chekhov, who portray atrabilious characters as products of societal pressures, highlighting themes of existential discontent.

Related Concepts:

• меланхолия (melancholy)
• вспыльчивость (irascibility)
• нервозность (nervousness)